The Surprise is a lead and silver mine located in Inyo county, California.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Satelite View
MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.
Surprise MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Surprise
Commodity
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Copper
Location
State: California
County: Inyo
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
Not available
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: IRREGULAR
Structure
Type: L
Description: Fault, Folds
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Galena
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Smithsonite
Comments
Comment (Commodity): ORE IS PARTIALLY OXIDIZED TO ANGLESITE AND CERUSSITE.
Comment (Workings): 3 ADITS WITH WINZES AND RAISES
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: LIMESTONE BEDS ARE CONTORTED BUT LOCALLY TREND EAST AND DIP 50 S.
Comment (Deposit): EXPLORATION WAS UNDERWAY DURING 1952 - 1953
Comment (Production): ORE AVERAGED 31.6 % PB, 25.2 OZ AG, .084 OZ AU/TON, MINOR COPPER AND ZINC.
Comment (Deposit): LARGEST ORE BODY MINED WAS ALONG HANGING WALL OF A REVERSE FAULT. DRAG FOLDS IN PART CONTROLLED ORE DEPOSITION, FAULTS ALONG ORE ACTED AS CHANNELWAYS FOR DOLOMITIZING SOLUTIONS.
References
Reference (Deposit): NORMAN, L. A. AND STEWART, R. J., 1951 ; MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF INYO COUNTY; CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOLOGY, VOL. 47 , NO. 1 ; DIV. OF MINES, P. 81 - 82 .
Reference (Production): GOODWIN, J. G., 1957 , P. 515 - 516 (SEE REF.)
Reference (Deposit): GOODWIN, J. G., 1957 , LEAD AND ZINC IN CALIFORNIA; CALIF. JOUR. MINES AND GEOLOGY, VOL. 53 , NO. 3 & 4 ; DIV. OF MINES, P. 515 - 516 .
California Gold
"Where to Find Gold in California" looks at the density of modern placer mining claims along with historical gold mining locations and mining district descriptions to determine areas of high gold discovery potential in California. Read more: Where to Find Gold in California.
